Chief Legal Officer

Situated on the ancestral homeland of the Tongva Peoples, Chaffey College is one of the oldest community colleges in California and serves a variety of communities, workforce partners, and students. While other community colleges are often named after their geographic area, Chaffey College is named after local innovator, George Chaffey, who, among other things, implemented street lights in the city of Ontario. Like its namesake, we are known for an innovative culture, dynamic environment, and future-mindedness. We remain closely tied to our community and are seeking leaders who will join us in our quest to provide responsive and supportive programming to engage and improve the communities we serve. The entire campus community aspires to consistently fulfill the vision that Chaffey College “improves lives through education.”

Chaffey College celebrates the diverse communities we serve. As a federally recognized Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Chaffey’s student population includes over 62% identifying as Latinx, 17% White, 8% African-American/Black, 6% Asian, and smaller percentages of Filipino (2.8%), Native American (0.40%), Pacific Islander (0.30%), or decline to state (2.82%). Furthermore, 40% of our students are first-generation college students, and approximately 62% of students are eligible for some form of financial aid. The current student population identifies as 62% female and 36% male with smaller percentages who either decline to state or identify as non-binary. Approximately 5% of Chaffey’s students utilize Disabled Programs and Services for support. To support the diverse needs of these populations and their intersections, the College has developed a variety of robust equity-driven efforts in and out of the classroom including the Center for Culture and Social Justice, Panther Care, Turning Point, Success Centers, GPS Centers, and BLOOM training.

The Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel (“CLO/GC”) serves as the District’s principal legal advisor and head legal representative. The CLO/GC’s responsibilities include, among other things, managing all of the District’s legal affairs and providing advice and counsel to the District’s Governing Board, the Superintendent/President, and the President’s Executive Team regarding a broad range of complex legal matters. The CLO/GC plays a significant role in supporting sound risk management and compliance efforts for the District, and the CLO/GC serves as the District’s litigation manager, which includes providing direction to outside legal counsel utilized by the District.

Responsibilities

Provide legal opinions, legal interpretations, and recommendations to the Superintendent/President and the Associate Superintendent of Business Services and Economic Development on complex issues relating to, among other things: District Governance; Employee Disciplines and Releases; Employee Leaves; ADA, Interactive Process, and Reasonable Accommodations; Title IX and Title 5; complaints and grievances; California Education Code; Ethics and Conflicts of Interest; EERA; Emergency and Pandemic Response Efforts; Law Enforcement matters; Gifts of Public Funds; Student Discipline; Contracting; Real Property and other Business Transactions; Interpretation of Collective Bargaining Agreements; Labor Negotiations; FERPA and State Privacy Laws; the Brown Act and California Public Records Act; FLSA and State Labor Code compliance; Constitutional and Administrative Law; Compliance with Local, State, and Federal laws; Copyrights; Potential and Pending Litigation; and Risk Management & General Liability;

Manage all of the District’s legal affairs;

Serve as the District’s principal legal advisor and chief legal representative;

Serve as the District’s Litigation Manager and provide direction to outside counsel;

Attend all Board meetings, prepare resolutions, and advise the Governing Board on appeals, litigations, labor negotiations, and other sensitive closed session matters;

Represent the District in EEOC, DFEH, OCR, PERB, and other matters brought before governmental agencies;

Oversee investigations that are conducted by third-party investigators;

Review and assist with the preparation of documents related to employee discipline and release, student discipline, complaints and grievances, and settlement agreements;

Conduct legal review of District-related contracts;

Provide legal guidance and counsel in union-related matters, as requested by the District;

Litigate Workplace Violence Restraining Orders and other judicial matters on behalf of the District;

Respond to subpoenas and California Public Records Act requests;

Develop and conduct internal training for management and District staff;

Provide updates to management regarding new case law and legislation impacting the District;

Develop, revise, and interpret Board policies, administrative rules, regulations, and procedures;

Provide legal support and guidance to District compliance officers.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Law degree from an accredited law school;

Active Member, in good standing, of the California State Bar;

At least five (5) years’ experience providing labor & employment advice and counsel to employers and management;

At least five (5) years of state or federal litigation experience;

Clear evidence of sensitivity to and an understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.

MEETING MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT ASSURE THE CANDIDATE OF AN INTERVIEW. Applications will be evaluated taking into account the breadth and depth of relevant education, experience, skills, knowledge, and abilities.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

At least five (5) years’ experience providing legal advice and counsel to California public schools, public colleges/universities;

At least five (5) years’ experience providing legal advice and counsel related to the California Education Code or Education Law;

Prior judicial clerkship or federal/state/local government experience;

Prior in-house legal department experience.

Additional Information

APPLICATION PROCESS

Chaffey College recently implemented an online electronic application system. Our new application can be accessed at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/chaffey. The application must be completely filled out in detail and clearly show that you meet the qualifications as set forth in the announcement, and you must upload the following documents:

Please do not include any additional documents only the documents that are indicated below. If you upload documents that are not required, your application may be disqualified. Please do not submit letters of recommendation or documents that contain your photograph.

Cover Letter

Resume

Professional Reference List (Include names, current addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses)

Copy of Transcripts (Transcripts must indicate degree earned/conferred- photocopies or computer printouts are acceptable. Transcripts of all degrees applicable to meeting the minimum qualifications for this position must be included. Copies of diplomas/degrees are NOT acceptable in lieu of transcripts. Official sealed transcripts will be required upon hire.)

Foreign transcripts must be transcribed and evaluated in English by a bona fide evaluation service. Educational requirements must be met on or before the closing date.)

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

This is a full-time, 12-month, management position, Level I, Range 38 of the Management Salary Schedule with starting salary of Step A, $14,067/month. Effective date of employment will be as soon as a successful candidate is selected and a mutually agreed upon date is determined.

EXCEPTIONAL BENEFITS PACKAGE

Health care, dental program, and vision services for employees and eligible dependents; employee life insurance; sick leave; and retirement coverage through the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).

The Selection Process

A screening committee will conduct all minimum qualification appraisals as set forth on the announcement and reserves the right to limit the number of interviews granted. Meeting the minimum qualifications for a position does not assure the applicant an interview. Applicants selected for an interview will be notified of the time and place of the interview. Interviews are usually held on the Chaffey College campus and are conducted by an Interview Committee. Additional interviews may be required. Reasonable accommodations are provided to persons with disabilities. Should an applicant have a need for an accommodation due to a disability, the applicant should contact the Office of Human Resources. Travel costs related to an interview will be borne by the applicant.

About the College

The College

Established in 1883, Chaffey College is one of California's first colleges. Nestled in the

foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, Chaffey's Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana and Chino campus locations serve students from throughout the Inland Empire. A fully accredited two-year institution by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Chaffey College offers associate degrees and vocational and transfer programs in a wide variety of subjects. Most recently named one of the Top 10 community colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute; Chaffey College remains committed to its mission of improving the lives of its students, faculty, and staff through education.

District

Serving throughout the diverse Inland Empire, Chaffey College provides services to the cities of Chino, Chino Hills, Fontana, Montclair, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, and Upland, reaching a population of more than 830,000. The District also recruits from some of the area's top high schools, accepting students from four surrounding districts; Chaffey Joint Union High School, Chino Unified School District, Fontana Unified School District, and the Upland Unified School District.

Curricula

Whether the goal is to transfer to a four-year institution or enter the workforce better prepared, Chaffey College provides its students with the opportunity to take a variety of applicable courses. From taking lower division and general education classes to learning career-technical skills, the college provides its students with the tools needed to succeed during their time at Chaffey and beyond.